23 April 2013 On the grace of our vocation “‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!’ The messenger greets Mary as ‘full of grace’. He calls her this as if it were her real name. He does not call her by her proper earthly name ‘Miriam’ (Mary), but by this new name: ‘Full of grace’. What does this mean? Why does the archangel address the Virgin of Nazareth in this way? “In the language of the Bible ‘grace’ means a special gift which according to the New Testament has its source precisely in the Trinitarian life of God himself, of God who is love.” (Cf 1 Jn 4:8) (John Paul II, “Redemptoris Mater”, 25 Mar 1987, 8) Mary is called ‘full of grace’ to express her true being. Whenever God changes a person’s name or gives him or her an extra one, he destines him or her to something new or reveals to that person his or her true mission in the history of salvation. Mary is called ‘full of grace’, most highly favored, because of her divine Motherhood. The angel’s announcement revealed to Mary her mission in the world, the key to her whole existence. For her the Annunciation was a most perfect light that filled the whole of her life and made her fully aware of her exceptional role in the history of mankind. “Mary is definitively introduced into the mystery of Christ through this event.” (John Paul II, “Redemptoris Mater”, 25 Mar 1987, 8) “The scene of the Annunciation is a very lovely one. How often have we meditated on this! Mary is recollected in prayer. ... using all her senses and her faculties to speak to God. ... in prayer ... she comes to know the divine Will. And with prayer she makes it the life of her life. Do not forget the example of the Virgin Mary.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 481) Mary’s vocation is the perfect example for any vocation. We understand our own life and the events surrounding it in the light of our vocation. In our endeavor to fulfill this divine plan is the way to Heaven. Therein also lies our own human and supernatural fulfilment. Vocation is not the choice we make for ourselves so much as that which God makes of us through the thousand and one events in which we are involved. We must know how to interpret these circumstances with faith, and with a pure and upright heart. “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (Jn 15:16) “Every vocation, every existence, is in itself a grace that encloses within it many others; it is a grace, a gift, that is given to us, that is bestowed on us without our having deserved it, without being evoked by any merit of ours, and with no right to it on our part. It is not necessary that ... the call to fulfil the plan of God, the assigned mission, be great or splendid. “It is enough that God has wanted to employ us in his service, that He wants us to aid him, that he trusts in our cooperation. The fact that he wants our cooperation is in itself so extraordinary and magnificent, that an entire life spent in thanksgiving is not enough to repay him for such an honour.” (Federico Suarez, “Mary of Nazareth” [Sinag-Tala Publishers, Inc, Manila, 1988, pp20-21]) The ‘yes’ that God asks of each one of us, whatever our direction in life may be, lasts for the whole of our lives. Sometimes, it will be our reply to minor events, at other times to larger, more important situations. Let us ask Our Lady for a great and true desire to perceive our own vocation in greater depth and for light so as to correspond to the successive calls God makes to us. Let us ask her to enable us to give a prompt and firm reply on each occasion. Our vocation alone is what can fill our lives and give them their full meaning. Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:182-7 The humility of John the Baptist The whole of John’s life is determined by his mission: as the ‘voice’ that announces Jesus. His vocation will be to prepare, for Jesus, a people capable of receiving the Kingdom of God. Concurrently, he is to give public testimony of Him. John will not seek personal fulfilment through his work, but to prepare a perfect people for the Lord. John will fulfil his mission not because it appeals to him, but because he was conceived for this very purpose. This is what all apostolate is about: forgetting oneself and developing a true concern for others. He was to carry out his task to the full, even to the extent of giving up his life in the fulfilment of his vocation. Many came to know Jesus through John the Baptist’s apostolic work. Through his express indication, the first disciples followed Jesus. And many others were inwardly prepared by his preaching. One’s vocation embraces one’s whole life; and our whole being works towards fulfilment of the divine mission. In our place and concerns, each of us has a God-given vocation. The Divine Will desires many other things which depend on fulfilment of that vocation. “Many great things depend, don’t forget it, on whether you and I live our lives as God wants.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 755) Do we bring people around us closer to God? Do we give good example in our work, at home? Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:58-9 • Grant of indulgences by Pope Calixtus III in the year 1455, to whoever visit the cathedral of Arras where a veil and girdle of Our Lady are preserved. — Andreas Herby, from the Manuscripts of the Church of Arras.) (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Pope Calistus III grants Indulgences to visitors of the Cathedral of Arras, which holds a Marian veil and cincture (sash). 1455. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Pope Calixtus III grants indulgences to those who visit the Cathedral of Arras, where a veil and cinture of Our Lady are kept (1455). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Indulgences granted to whoever visit the Cathedral of Arras where a veil and a cincture of Our Lady are preserved. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Mende, Africa (16th Century). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Good Counsel. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1907)